Rebecca Gayheart on Estranged Husband, Eric Dane’s ALS Diagnosis and Early Signs of the Disease

Eric Dane, the Grey's Anatomy heartthrob known for playing Dr Mark Sloan, revealed his ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) diagnosis earlier this year. Now his estranged wife, Rebecca Gayheart, is sharing raw details on his early signs and their family's fight. In a heartfelt essay for The Cut on December 29, 2025, she described spotting hand weakness during family meals and the tearful call when he got the news. 

Despite their 2017 separation, Gayheart and Dane have remained a "familial" unit for their two teenage daughters, Billie and Georgia. Rebecca revealed that while their love is no longer romantic, she is "locked in" to ensuring Eric receives the best possible treatment. 

Early Signs of ALS That Rebecca Noticed

Rebecca Gayheart packed on the PDA in a moment with her billionaire boyfriend, Peter Morton. The actress and the Hard Rock founder have been linked for years but have barely been seen in public as she navigates her relationship with estranged husband, Eric Dane. 📸: BACKGRID pic.twitter.com/wUcLlDl7mm

— Page Six (@PageSix) December 4, 2025

"Our love may not be romantic, but it's a familial love," Gayheart shared. She explained that she is "committed to facilitating" Eric's wish to spend as much time as possible with their daughters, Billie and Georgia. The family, who live just 12 minutes apart, has focused on creating a supportive environment, with Gayheart even dismissing her long-standing divorce petition to focus entirely on his care and their children's stability.

The diagnosis didn't happen overnight. Looking back, Rebecca recalls subtle red flags that the family initially brushed off. Eric’s symptoms began about a year before his April 2025 announcement, starting with minor physical frustrations during daily life.

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Rebecca Gayheart’s Symptoms of ALS

"His symptoms started maybe a year prior," Rebecca wrote in her essay. "When we would have a meal with the kids, he’d say things like, 'Something’s wrong with my hand.' He was struggling to use his chopsticks, dropping his food." Eric initially thought it was just fatigue or "texting too much," but as the weakness progressed, he sought out specialists. 

After a series of referrals, a neurologist in San Francisco delivered the "sobering" news. Rebecca recalls the moment he called her: "When he told me that day, he just started weeping, as did I. It didn't feel real because he was still okay."

What Is ALS?

In one of our previous articles, Dr Suhas VP, Consultant Neurologist at Bangalore Hospital, Kengeri, describes ALS as a "progressive neurodegenerative disorder." While that sounds like a mouthful, he breaks it down simply: it is a disease where the body’s "wiring" begins to fail.

The disease specifically targets motor neurons, which are the specialised nerve cells in your brain and spinal cord. Think of these neurons as the messengers that carry "move" signals from your brain to your muscles. They allow you to do everything from waving a hand to the complex task of breathing.

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Conclusion

Rebecca Gayheart’s transparency offers a vital look at the realities of terminal illness within a family unit. By choosing to stay "best of friends" and "great co-parents," she and Eric are prioritising presence over the paperwork of the past. Her story reminds us that while medical diagnoses are clinical, the care required is deeply human.